Luke indicated that Jesus told the former demoniac to return to his home (Ὑπόστρεφε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου). There he was to declare how much God had done for him (καὶ διηγοῦ ὅσα σοι ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεός). Thus, he went away (καὶ ἀπῆλθεν), proclaiming throughout the whole city (καθ’ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν κηρύσσων) how much Jesus had done for him (ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς). There is something similar in Mark, chapter 5:19-20, while there is nothing like this in Matthew. Mark said that Jesus refused this former demoniac’s request. Jesus would not permit him to go with them. However, Jesus told him to go to his own home. There he was to preach, announce, or tell others how much the Lord (ὁ Κύριός) had done for him with his great mercy. This former demoniac went away. He then began to preach or proclaim in the Decapolis area how much Jesus had done for him. Thus, everyone there was amazed or marveled at this. The Decapolis territory was a group of 10 gentile non-Jewish cities on the east bank of the Jordan River in present day Jordan and Syria that included the towns of Gerasa, Scythopolis, Hippos, Gadara, Pella, Philadelphia, Capitolias, Canatha, Raphana, and Damascus. Thus, this cured demoniac was the first Christian apostle to the gentiles, a foreign missionary rather than a close disciple or apostle. Would you rather be a missionary for Jesus or one who followed him closely?

Luke said that as the sun was setting (Δύνοντος δὲ τοῦ ἡλίου), all those who had any person who was sick with various kinds of diseases (ἅπαντες ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας νόσοις ποικίλαις) brought them to Jesus. (ἤγαγον αὐτοὺς πρὸς αὐτόν). This would not have been the Sabbath, because the sun had set on the Sabbath. Jesus laid his hands on each of them (ὁ δὲ ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ αὐτῶν τὰς χεῖρας ἐπιτιθεὶς) and so he cured them (ἐθεράπευεν αὐτούς). Luke concentrated on the sick people, emphasized healing. There are similar generic statements about healing sick and chasing out demons in Mark, chapter 1:32-33, and Matthew, chapter 8:16. Matthew emphasized the casting out of demons. Jesus cast out these demons with merely a word. At the same time, he also healed all the sick people around there, without indicating how this was done. Apparently, during biblical times, there were a lot of people who were possessed by the devil. Mark was the only one to mention that the whole city gathered at his door. Mark said that they brought to him all who had a sickness or were possessed with demons. Jesus was also a daring faith healer, since many saw the connection between both sickness and demonic evil spirit possession.

This generic remark about Jesus entering Jerusalem and the Temple is in stark contrast with Matthew, chapter 21:30, where he said that the whole city was in turmoil or stirred up wondering who was this man entering the city was. Matthew emphasized that Jesus was from Galilee, the north, rather than a Judean or a southerner. Mark said, in a more descriptive simple manner, that Jesus simply entered Jerusalem (Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα) and the Temple (εἰς τὸ ἱερόν). He just looked around at everything (καὶ περιβλεψάμενος πάντα). There was nothing spectacular about the arrival of Jesus and his apostles. Since it was already a late hour (ὀψὲ ἤδη οὔσης τῆς ὥρας), he went out to Bethany (ἐξῆλθεν εἰς Βηθανίαν) with his twelve apostles (μετὰ τῶν δώδεκα). There they probably spent the night, since it was only about a mile and a half east of Jerusalem. This was the same city of Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, but there was no mention of them here.

Matthew, chapter 8:16, has something similar, as well as Luke, chapter 4:40. Neither had any mention of the whole city gathered at his door. Luke never mentioned possessed people, since he concentrated on the sick only. Mark said that as evening came (Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης), after the sunset (ὅτε ἔδυσεν ὁ ἥλιος), they brought to him (ἔφερον πρὸς αὐτὸν) all who had a sickness (πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας) or were possessed with demons (καὶ τοὺς δαιμονιζομένους). Mark said that everyone or the whole city (καὶ ἦν ὅλη ἡ πόλις) was gathered around his door (ἐπισυνηγμένη πρὸς τὴν θύραν). Apparently, during biblical times, there were a lot of people who were possessed by the devil. Jesus was also a daring faith healer, since many saw the connection between sickness and demonic evil spirit possession.

Only Matthew has these remarks about what happened to Jesus as he entered the city of Jerusalem (καὶ εἰσελθόντος αὐτοῦ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα). Matthew said that the whole city was in turmoil or stirred up wondering (ἐσείσθη πᾶσα ἡ πόλις) who was this man entering the city (Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος). The crowds (οἱ δὲ ὄχλοι), a favorite theme of Matthew, said that this was the prophet Jesus (ἔλεγον Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ προφήτης Ἰησοῦς), from Nazareth in Galilee (ὁ ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲθ τῆς Γαλιλαίας). How the crowds could speak with one voice was not explained. However, there was no messianic overtone here, but merely Jesus as a northern prophet. Also note that the emphasis was on Jesus from Galilee, the north, rather than a Judean or a southerner.